Irrigation water distributing device



April 11, 1961 NEvEs 2,979,082

IRRIGATION WATER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.Fxel

INVENTOR.

TEANKT. Haves ATTOEHEYS April 11, 1961 NEVES 2,979,082

IRRIGATION WATER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1957 Z'ShBetS-Sheet 2FIG. 3

ILS

IN V EN TOR.

1 A0 TZANKT. NEVE$ I on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

,Figure 6.

ing-the support plate about the conduit 11. l 9

. plate 10.

United States Patent The present invention relates to an irrigationwater distributing device or gate for directing irrigation water intoone or more ditches. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide a water distributingdevice which enables the user'to directthe flow of irrigation water intoone,-two, three, or four iniin orchards where the water is generallyconfined in shallow trenches running between the trees and also onewhich lends itself for use in sodded areas such as hay or alfalfa fieldswhere the water is permitted to flow directly over the sod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterdistributing device which is sturdy in construction and of relativelylong life, onewhich is easily manufactured and assembled, and one whichis economically feasible. i

orifices, four in number, and designated by the reference numerals 15,16, 17 and 18, arranged in spaced relation therearound intermediate theupper and lower ends of the casing 14.

'A sleeve 19 is positionedwithin the casing 14 and is insertable andwithdrawable through the upper open end of the casing 14. The sleeve 19is of a size to fit snugly within the casing 14 in frictional engagementwith the inner wall of the casing 14 and is rotatable within the casing14. The sleeve 19 has discharge ports 21, 22, and

23, arranged'in'spa'ced relation thereabout andregistrable with theorifices through 18, inclusive, as shown in Figures 3 through 5,inclusive, in any desired combination. In Figure 3, orifices 15 and '18are closed by the 15 sleeve 19, while the port 21 and'the port 22 are incommunication with the orifices 16 and 17, respectively. In Figure 4,orifices .15, 16, and 18 are closed by thesleeve 19 and only the. singleport 23 is in communication with the orifice 17. In Figure 5, orifice 15is still closed by the sleeve 19, while the orifices 16, 17,,and 18 arepartialgation ditches or channels, one which lends itself for use lyconnected in communication vw'ththe ports 2 1, 22, and 23, respectively.In Figure 6 the sleeve 19 is shown in a raised positionwith respect tothe casing 14, permitting the Water to flow upwardly from the conduit 11into the 5 interior of the casing 14 and thence outwardly throughrespective one ofthe orifices1'5 to 18, inclusive.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description, when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

device, according to the present invention, the dotted line showingindicating an underground irrigationsupply pipe; Figure 2 is a sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, taken Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken onthe line 33 of Figure 2, showing the device in the position directingthe water flow into two conduits;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the device adjusted sothat the water fiow is through only one conduit; I

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the water partially flowing intothree conduits;-

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, the dotted lineshowing indicating the upwardlyraised posiwater to flow through all fourconduits; and

. Figure 7 is a sectional view taken onithe line 7- 7 of The significantrelation between the orifices 15 through 1 8 and the ports 21 through 23can best be'observed by reference to Figs. 3, 4,' and 5. It-will benoted that the orifices are equally spaced circumferentially of thecasing and are of a width measured circumferentially of the Figure 1 isa top plan view of the water distributing.

casing less than the distance of their spacing. Expressed differently,the orifices provide adjacent edges spaced a distance greater than thewidth of theorifices. 0f the ports, the adjacent pair designated at 21and 22 are spaced a distance substantially equal to the spacing of theorifices. The pair of ports 22 and 23 are more closely spaced by anamount'equal to approximately. the width of an orifice. When so spaced,rotation of the sleeve 1 9 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig;5, serves progressively to increase the registration of the port 23 withthe orifice 18 while progressively decreasing the registrationof theport 22 with the orifice 17 and at a corresponding rate. It willbeevident that an equivalent structure and operation is alsoattainableby spacing the-ports 22 and '23 farther apartthan thespacirig-of the orifices by tion of the sleeve of the present invention,permitting the like numerals indicate like parts. throughout i'theseyeral "views, the water distribution device, according to the present;invention, comprises ahorizontally disposed support plate 10 surroundingand spaced below the open end of an upright irrigation discharge conduit11, the la tter having its lower end: connected in communication with ahorizontally extending-irrigation,gwater supply pipe 12. The conduit 11and the support' 'plate 10 are fi ged togejther 'by' a mass ofcementitious =material as at I3 seal- An upstanding hollow open endedcasing 14 is positioned so that the lower end receives the support plate'10 with the openupper end spaced above and parallel to the supportplate 10, the lower end of the casing 14 being in seal-tight securedrelation with respect to the support The casing 14 is provided with aplurality of discharge an amountequal. to approximately the width of anorifice. Thusthe significant feature with respect to the "spacing'ofthese" twoports is' "that they are eitherc'loser on farther apart,inother-words spaceddiifrently fforri the "spacing of the orifices, anamount-equal to approximately the width-of an orificefxlt willbenoted inFig. 3 that the centers of the ports 21 and2 2 are sp'aced adistanceequal "to the spacing of the orifices 17 and-18, and the spacing of thecenters ofall other-adjacent orific'esyand that the spacing of the'centerslof the ports 22 and '23 is su'bstaiidance between theoppositely disposed 'edgesiof'theorifices I tially' equal to thedistance between' the" adjacent edges of the-orifices 17 and'18." ltfwillalso -be apparent in view 0f the foregoing that the centers of'"theports c22aand. 23 "may b'espace'da distance substantially equal to'th'eTd'is- 17 and 18 to attain an equivalent structure and mode ofoperation.

The sleeve 19 is formed at its upper end with an infiwardly turnedflange, 25 to which is secured a diametrical- 1y positioned bridgeelement 26 having an aperture there through for the insertion ofthe-shank 27. of avalve,

I Wrench 28. Another bridge element 29 (Figures 2 and bridge element, 29witliin the sleeve 19 "and is sieatable upon theopen upper end of. theconduit 11. .The 'valve stem 32 of the valve 31 extendsupwardlythrdu'gh'a threaded aperture provided in the bridge element}? and 1 hasthe portion'adjacentitsupperend eonforniablyshaped to fit the open'lowerend of the valve wmmnzsg'm enabling the user thereof to open 'andclOSethe valve 31 to control the'flow of water f rornihejconduit 11 into theinterior of the sleeve 19 a nd"thenee outwardly through; 5 any selectedone of the dis 'charge pipesio'r conduits'24 upon proper rotation ofthe'sleeve 19 withinthecasing-14.

As shown in Figure 1,.the conduits 24 each permit the flow of water intoshallow trenches or. ditches 33 when it is desired to containtheirrigation water within a-- specific area, such as in an orchard.vTheconduits 24 maybe dispensed with when it is desired to merely flooda sodded area such asa hayior alfalfa field, :the water issuing from theorifices 15 to 18, inclusive, flowing directly. onto the soddedareawithont.da1nage thereto.--

What is claimed is:

1. In an irrigationdevice, the combination of a tubular 5 substantiallyupright casing having an open upper end, a lower end adapted forconnection to a source-of irrigating water, and four laterally disposedorificesnsubstantially equally spaced about the casing, the casinghaving a cavity defined by an inwardly disposed surface of revolutionconcentric to an erect axis; a sleeve having an external surface ofrevolution rotatably fitted in the cavity against the internal surfaceof the casing and pro-#- viding three laterally disposed ports thereinof substantially the same size and shape, as the orifices', adjacentfirst and second of said ports being spaced.substantially the samedistance as the orifices inthe casing and adjacent second and thirdports being spaced a distance dif ferent from the spacing of. theorifices by an amount equal to substantiallythe width of an orificemeasured circumferential 1y of the casing; means in the lower end of thecasing defining a valve seat concentric to the sleeve eircumscribing awater receiving opening; bridge elements mounted in the 'upper and lowerends of the sleevey'a v l p e for s a n n a m ntw h th -v afie having anoperating stem screw-threadablyj mounted axially concentrically of thesleeve in the bridge element of the lower end of the sleeve; and a valvewreneh rotat- .ably mountedpxially concentrically oftfthe sleeyeyin thebridge element of the upper. end of the sleeve ,in releasably drivenconnection to thegster'n of the valye the .sleeve being frictionallyengaged in the casing land with the bridge elements, valve and wrenchmounted therein being movablelinto. and out of theopen upper .end of'thecasing. 2 1 a r 2. A valve struciu eifor use injan; irrigationsystemhaving a water supplyzpipe and a tubular casjng con- .nected, tothe pipeand upwardly, extended therefromand .in which said casingprovides anopenupperend and has 6 la set of laterally disposed openings constitutingorifices,

comprising a .sleeverotatablrfitted in the upper ;end.of.

the casing and movableaxiallYto and from .thecasing throughsaidi openupper end, said sleeve .having-a'laterally disposed openingconstituting'a port selectively registe'rable. with the orifices. of:thebasing uponjrotation-of the. sleeve intheizcasingpandmeans connectedto the sleeve'for rotatablyapositioning the sleeve fin the casingselectively to registerthelportiwiththeoriiices of the iaara nea 1casing and for moving the sleeve axially to and from the casing to coverand name the orifices of the casing.

3. The valve structure of claim 2 in which the sleeve positioning meanscomprises a bridge element integral with the sleeve and extendeddiametrically of the upper end thereof.

4. In an irrigation system having a water supply pipe and an upstandingtubular casing connected to the pipe ad; u wa d snsndsith t trqm and in.w i h said ing provides an open upper end and a set of laterallydisposed openings constituting orifices; the combination of a sleevefric tipnally fittedinthe upper end of the easing movable "axially toland from thei ca sing in and out of the open upper end thereof, androtatable within the casing, said sleeve having a laterally disposedopening constituting a port selectively registerable with the orificesof the casing upon rotation of the sleeve in the casing; means in theeasing defining an upwardly disposed valve seat coneentric to the sleevecircumscribing a water supply opening; a valve adapted for engagementwith the valve seatinsealing relation to the opening; and m an b rn .i aqen i l mf t Sleeve mo the valve on the .sleeve for adjustable movementaxially thereof to and from seat engagement when the sleeve ispositioned in the upper end of the casing and movable integrally withthe sleeveto and from the casing. -v In an ir a io ste a pp y p p and jpst nd n tubul r.9as nac0 ne t to the p p p oviding an open upper "end,a lower end, and having a set; of laterally disposed openingsconstituting orifices spaced circumfe jentially of the casing; thecombination of asleeve fitted in the upper end of the casing, movableaxiallyfto firomdhe casing, and rotatable within the casing, said sleevehaving a set of openings constituting laterally disposedportsregisterable with the orifices of .the casingnpon rotation of; thesleeve in thccasing; rneans; in the lower end ofi'the casing defining anupwardly disposed valve seat concentric to the sleeve circumscribing awater supply opening; upper and lower bridge elements mountedl in 'thesleeve and extended diametrically of the sleeve; a valve stemscrew-threadably mounted in the lower bridge element axially concentricto the sleeve and having upper and lower ends; a valve adapted forengagement with the valve seatin sealing relation to. thesupply openingmounted on the lower end of the stem; and a valve wrench rotatably and'slidably mounted; in the upper bridge element axially concentric to thesleeve having. -a-lower end engageable with the upper end of the stem indriving relation thereto, said stem, hridgeelementeand wrench beingmovable to and from the casing integrally with the sleeve.

i- ReferencesCited the file of this patent vi UNITED S ES PATENTS 7431,943} 'Ciustin Sept. 6, 1892 7 "935,566 Twiford Sept. 28, 19091,036,674.. ;-Meurling Aug. 27, 1912.

1,310,954. :M01le1 July 22, 19,19

"io'uke Nov. 14, 1944 2,612.3!{1 Bridgefield Sept. 30, 1952 2;s;1 7,e 22w e etal Nov. 11, 1952 2,625,909. Steely.., Jan. 20, 1953 ,-..,Fai rchild "Dec. 2 1954 1 Fonetgn PATENTS Francer June 1, 1255 12,3121;,jogeatnntain -lan'May 30,1903 1,103,769

